FM: election just started in Belarus, but everything already condemned and not recognised in the West
The election in Belarus has just begun, but everything is already condemned and not recognised in the West – as stated by Anatoly Glaz, a representative of Belarus’ Foreign Ministry, at a briefing today, commenting on the EU’s pre-prepared statement
Mr. Glaz explained, “The statement, for example, claims that ‘restrictions on the access of independent media to Belarus have seriously undermined the legitimacy of the electoral process. In this regard, the necessary conditions for democratic elections were not met’. From the very first paragraph, all statements are false.”
The FM representative noted that about 330 foreign journalists representing all the world's leading independent media from 23 countries have been accredited to cover the election, “Further, the European External Action Service claims that Belarus did not invite OSCE/ODIHR to observe the election, but this is a lie as well. As you know, and this was confirmed by the Office itself on January 17th, the invitation was sent. They still have the opportunity to come. However, this does not matter in principle, since more than 450 international observers from 49 countries have been accredited to observe the election, and delegations from the leading international organisations, including the IPA CIS, CSTO PA, SCO and CICA, will be present.”
As noted by Mr. Glaz, the third paragraph contains a traditional set of clichés about the EU's support for democratic rights and fundamental freedoms. “This is hypocrisy against the background of illegal sanctions imposed by the EU on ordinary Belarusian citizens. The EU countries restrict their freedom of movement, financial, economic, civil and other rights.”